how would you go about testing and adjusting your buoyancy?
sorry for all the questions. i am just trying to have the best grasp of as much as i can before my cert to help make everything easier and more enjoyable.
I apologize for not catching this before. You have bought all of this gear...
and you haven't even gotten certified yet. To varying degrees, all divers are gear hounds. We completely understand your excitement about buying cool stuff for your new hobby. We've all been there.
At this point, the best thing you can do is stop buying stuff (perhaps even return some of the stuff you bought, such as the octo inflater). Save your dive $$$ for training, gaining more experience, and taking dive vacations. Most dive shops include gear rentals in the price of basic OW certification. Take advantage of this. Try to use the time/experience to figure out what you like/don't like. You may find that you don't like an air-integrated computer. You may learn that you like a different brand reg more. You may prefer a different style BCD. You might be perfectly happy with an AL80 tank rather than a steel tank.
You mentioned that you didn't want to buy a $600 starter set only to have to upgrade to a $2000+ set later. You also stated that you are interested in doing tech diving at some point. Here's what will happen when you transition to tech diving: You'll ditch the octo-inflater for a standalone octo and simple power inflater. The octo will be the same high quality second stage that your primary reg is. You will convert to a long hose setup. You'll ditch the Sherwood BCD for a backplate and wing, which is much more configurable for the demands of tech diving. You will probably switch out your Sherwood Wisdom 2 for a simple brass and glass SPG and a wrist-mounted bottom timer. You'll buy a backup bottom timer. You'll get a wrist-mounted Suunto SK7 compass. When you look back on your original gear purchases, you'll realize that your starter set cost you a lot more than $600. That's just the way I see things playing out. (Full disclosure: I'm not even a tech diver.)
If you really want to slant your gear buying in the tech diving direction, talk to real tech divers. Ask them what kind of gear they would recommend that you get.
In my opinion, expensive gear purchases (BCD, reg, computer, tanks) should be made
after basic OW class and only when the diver has determined that he/she wants to pursue the sport further. Probably the first thing beyond personal gear (mask, snorkel, fins) that you should buy is a properly fitting wetsuit that's thick enough for your local dive conditions. Hope you find this advice helpful...